Blacking machine



' Filed June 15, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet l Fig. 8.

- 11 2 1930- H. L. cHAPIN 1,760,115

BLACKING MACHINE Filed June 15, 1927 4 SheetsSheet 2 y 1930- H. L. CHAPIN 1,760,115

BLACKING MACHINE Filed June 15, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 May 21, 1930. HLQCHAPIN 1,760,115

BLACKING MACHINE Filed June 15, 1927 4 Shee'ts-Sheet 4 w v 00 11 J\ V Iii I 63 v Patented May 27, 1930 tlNHTED stares PATENT OFFICE HERBERT L. CHAPIN, OF SWAMPSCOTT, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED SHOE MACHINERY CORPORATION, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY BLAGKING MACHINE Application filed June 15,

This invention relates to machines for applying finishing material such as stains, blacking and the like, hereinafter generically termed blacking, to the peripheral portions of shoe parts such as heels. The illustrated machine is designed for use in blacking the peripheries of the bases of shoe heels having rubber top lifts.

In coating the peripheries of heels attached to shoes, it is possible to apply blacking to the peripheries of heels with great facility when the whole surface of the periphery is to be coated. The problem is more difficult, however, when the heels are provided'with rubber top lifts so that the stripe of blacking must be confined between two limits, namely, the rand-crease and the edge of the base-ad jacent to the rubber top lift. It is customaryalso to-supply blacking to the inwardly eX- tending marginal surface of the heel in the rand crease and this operation must be accompli shed without applying blacking to the. shoe upper. This problem was successfully met by the invention set forth in United States Letters Patent No. 1,509,866, granted Sept. 30, 1924 on the application of F. M. Furber. In the machine shown in that patent a rand crease disk was provided for pr0tecting the upper and coating the marginal surface of the heel in the rand crease, and immediately adjacent to this disk there was provided a narrow brush rotatable in the same general direction as the rand crease disk and operating to apply blacking to the side and rear peripheral surfaces of the heel base, blacking means being supplied to the brush by a rotatable member arranged to dip in a blacking receptacle and serving the dual function of supplying blacking to the brush and straightening or combing out the bristles of the brush.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved organization by the use of which the blacking of shoe parts suchv as heel bases may be still further facilitated, and which will be constructed and arranged still further to facilitate the removal and replacement of parts and the making of various adjustments.

To this end, in accordance with a feature of 1927. Serial No. 199,041.

the invention, a pick-up device, illustrated as a rotatable drum dipping in a blacking receptacle, carries a thin film of blackingto a transfer device which supplies blacking to a rotatable brush for applying the blacking to the peripheries of heel bases and which comprises members constructed and arranged also to straighten the bristles of the brush. Preferably readily adjustable scrapers associated with different faces of the drum are provided to control the amount of blacking carried by the drum for delivery to the transfer device. As illustrated, the drum also delivers blacking to a rand'crease disk by means of a peripheral flange projecting outwardly from the drum and having associated with it scrapers which controlthe amount of. blacking carried by the peripheral flange for delivery to the rand crease disk;

The illustrated drum, moreover, is .provided with an end flange which substantially closes the drum, thereby insuring that the drum will not undesirably churn the blacking in the receptacle and at the same time preventing the accumulation of blacking in the interior of the drum.

To insure that the rand crease disk properly protects the upper of the shoe, the illustrated machine is provided with cleaners contacting with one face of the di.sk,'and to insure that the disk applies suflicient blacking to the surface of the heel base in the rand crease, a ploW is provided which co-acts with the applying face of the disk and operates to carry blacking received by the disk outwardly toward its periphery. In accordance with a further feature of the invention, the illustrated rand crease disk is mounted in an adjustable support which also carries the cleaners and the plow, the construction and arrangement beingsuch that the disk with its cleanersand the plow may be simultaneously adjusted to move the disk axially toward or away from the flange of the; pick-up drum, thereby insuring that the proper amount of blacking is taken from the drum, without altering the adjustment of the cleaners or the plow with respect to the disk.

In accordance with another feature of the invention blacking is transferred from the in ..v

pick-up drum to the brush by a rotary comb comprising a plurality of plate sections arranged helically around the axis of the comb so that they are in staggered relation and provided with projections operating effectively to claw through the brush and straighten its bristles. As illustrated these individual sections are identical and are provided with a plurality of key-ways so that they may be mounted indifferent angular positions upon "the holder toform a helix.

7 Preferably, a support is provided for the rotary comb so arranged that it maybe adjusted slightly toward and away from the rotary pick-up drum to control the amount of blacking taken by the comb from the drum fordelivery to -the brush. As illustrated, the rotary comb is also adjustable toward and away from the axis of the brush to determine the depth to which the teeth OftllCOHll) shall dip in said brush bristles. Preferably thedriving mech anism forthe comb and the brush is such that a hunting action is set up both axially and 'circumferentiallyso that any particularpor- ,tion ofthe-comb contacts with any particular set of bristles only once in about every four hundred revolutions of the brush.

1 Because of the variation in theheights of heel bases and hence in the width of the stripe of blacking which must be applied, it is found desirable to make the brush in thin sections and to .use as many sections as may be necessary for the particularwork. Obviously,

, also, the brush must be removed at intervals or the otherwill be sure to clamp the brush tightly. Preferably a projection upon the nutwhich is used for turning the nut into -clamp1ng'pos1tion is arranged also to serve as a means'for driving a rotatable CllSlCWll-lCh isprovided adjacent. to one side of the brush to control the spread of the bristles.

These and other features of the invention will now beset forth in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of amachineembodyingthe invention Fig.2 is a front elevation of the machine *withpaits broken away and in section;

. Fig. 3 is a-planview of the operating parts i of themachinewith the upperpa'rtof the machine cutaway;

ing- 41s a section 031 the s Wm: of

means of a cylindrical drum 20 which secured on a transverse shaft. 4% (Fig; 3) provided with a gear 46 (F 1g. 1) having driving 1.

' Fig. 3 showing the driving mechanism for the brush and the comb;

Fig. 5 is a plan View of the scrapers cooperating with the cylindrical blacking supply drum;

Fig. 6 is a section on the line VIVI of Fig. 5 showing the relation of one scraper to the lateral flange of the drum;

Fig. 7 is an axial section through the rotary comb and its eccentric bearing;

Fig. 8 is a detailed view of one of the plates used in making up the comb.

The illustrated machine, which is of the type shown in United Stat-es Letters Patent No. 1,509,866 above referred to, is adapted to applyblacking to the sidesand rear of the leather heel base 10 of .a shoe 12by means of a rotary brush 14;. Blanking is also applied tothe topedgeof the heel adjacenttothe rand crease by means of a rand crease disk 16 (Fig. 3). The brush 14 and the disk 16 are rotatable about angularly related axes as shown in Fig. 3 so that the portions of the disk and the brush which are opposite to the points of application of the work are separated from one another to allow blackingto be supplied individually to the brush and to the disk without interference. Blacking is supplied to the disk 16 by a projecting flange 18 upon a cylindrical drum 20 which dips in a reoeptacle 22, partially filled with liquid blacking, the projecting flange 18 of the drum 20 having a beveled lateral face'GO which is arranged to pass near and overlap the opposed face of the rand crease disk 16 to transfer blacking thereto.- Blacking is transferred from the cylindrical surface of the drum 20 to the brush 1 1 by a combined blacking pick-up and bristle-straightening comb 241 (Fig. i which is rotated in a direction opposite to that of the brush and at a different speed.

. As in the machine disclosed in the Letters Patent referred to, the blacking receptacle 22 is supported within a hollow frame by means of a removable pin 32 having an enlarged central portion 3 1-. The blacking rcceptacle 22 is provided with an extension 36 (Figs. 2 and 3) provided with opening for engagement with a dowel 38 secured in said frame by a set screw 40 Fig. 1). The receptacle 22 is also extended forward at 37"to provide for the reception of an adjustable heel rest 4-2.

In the machine illustrated herein, the

blacking ispicked up from the receptacle by engagement with a worm 48 on a drive shaft 50 journaled in the frame 30 and extending from front to back. {This drive shaft 50 is provided with atight pulley 52 and a loose pulley 5,51, while the shifting of a belt from machine.

one to the other is accomplished by a belt shifter 56 having an operators handle 58.

At the right side of the drum 20 a flange 62 (Fig. 3) is provided which practically closes this side of the drum, it being left open at 64, however, to facilitate casting the part and the removal of the core. This flange 62 is of such dimension that it prevents the admission of blacking to the interior of the drum where its accumulation and oxidation might build up a mass of dried blackin in the course of time, to an extent which would interfere with the proper operation of'the The flange 62 minimizes the tendency of the rotation of the drum to churn up the blacking in the receptacle 22 and fill it with bubbles which would render the blacking ineffective in coating the work.

As this drum 20 with its projecting flange 18 rotates and dips in the receptacle 22 it picks up a quantity of blacking which is not definitely determined and which varies some what with the depth of the blacking in tire receptacle. It is desirable, therefore, to control the quantity of blacking on certain surfaces of the drum prior to its transfer to the applying devices. It is also desirable to scrape completely clean other surfaces of the drum in order to prevent the accumulation of dried blacking thereon which would otherwise result. Accordingly, scrapers are provided which are best shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, certain of which are directed to the control of blacking upon the beveled circular face 60 of the drum and'the flange 18. Since the transfer of blacking from this flange to the rand crease disk 16 results from the slight overlapping relation of the two members, it is only necessary for the proper delivery of blacking to said disk that there shall be an annular stripe of blacking around the outer margin of the beveledsurface 60. Thus there is provided a stripping scraper having a broad face for engagement with wide extent of the beveled surface 60 completely to clean surplus blacking from an annular area Within the margin of this surface and to prevent its drying and building up. This scraper is mounted on an arm 72 held by means of a set screw 74 (Fig. 5) on a sleeve 76 which passes through an opening in the frame 30 and is held in position therein by a set screw 78. This sleeve .furnishes thebearing for a plunger 80 on the right end of which is mounted a controlling edge scraper 82 by means of which it is possible to control the amount of blacking picked up by the outer annular margin of the surface 60 for delivery to the rand crease disk 16. The plunger 80 is normally pressed toward the surface 60 of the drum by means of a spring 81 interposed between a'collar 84 on the sleeve 76 and a pin 86 passing through a slot in said sleeve into the plunger 80. The outer end of the plunger 80 is threaded for engagement in a nurled nut 88 by means of-which the operator can adjust to a nicety the position of the scraper 82 with respect to the surface 60. When the operator wishes to adjust the scraper 82, he first loosens the nut 88 to allow the spring 81 to push the scraper 82 into engagement with the surface 60 of the flange 18 of the drum and then tightens the nut to draw back the scraper 82 just the desired amount to permit the transfer of the proper supply of blacking to the rand crease disk 16. To prevent the formation of a ring of dried blacking upon the beveled surface 60 of the drum between the surfaces treated by the scrapers Y0 and 82 the adjacent edges n from one another, it is only essential that all the blacking shall be removed in order to keep them clean. In case of the cylindrical surface of the drum, however, it is desired accurately to control the quantity of blacking which is pickedup for transfer to the applying brush 14. There is provided, accordingly, a scraper assembly including a block 92 which has an end face for engagement with the right hand surface of the flange 18 5) and this scraper 92 is also provided with a flattened pin 96 which is tilt-ably mounted in the scraper about an axis situated along side the flattened face of the pin. This pin 96 is provided with a slotted head 98 so that it may be tilted to bring its sharpened corner 100 (Fig. 6) into the desired relation to the outer surface of the flange 62. It will then be'clamped in position by means of a bolt 102. This scraper 92 is mounted on a rod 104 passing through a block 106 which is integral with the dowel pin 38 (Fig. 1) which, it will berecalled, serves to assist in the location of the blacking receptacle 22. The clamp bolt 102 also serves to hold the scraper 92 on the rod 104.

It will be noted from Fig. 1 that the block and loosening the setscrew lO. A' spring 108 surrounds the rod 104 and urges the scraper to the left, it being possible accurately to adjust this position by means of 112 (Fig. 1) between an arm of the block 111 l and the screw 40 tends to rotate the rod 104 counter-clockwise, as viewedin Fig. 1, to bring the scraper blade 94 into the desired relation to the drum and the position of this blade with respect to the drum may be adjusted by means of hand screw 114 threaded in another arm of the block 111 and engaging the projecting portion of the set screw 40. It should be noted that operation of the hand screw 114 to control the scraper blade 94 does not affect the effective relation to the drum of the end surface of the scraper 92 and the scraper 96. The adjustment of the scraper pin 96 after the machine has been initially set up is only necessary in case of uneven wear between the end of the scraper 92 and said scraper pin 96. It then will be possible to'compensate for this by turning the flattened pin 96 in the scraper 92.

As has been brought out already, the application of blacking to the upper edge of the heel adjacent to the rand crease is eflected by the concave rand crease disk 16 having an outwardly turned peripheral flange 120 (Fig. 2) as is common in this type of ma chine. This flange 120 contacts with or rotates closely adjacent to the flange 18 on the blacking supply drum and receives blacking therefrom which is transferred to the work. The disk 16 is clamped upon a shaft 122 by means of a nut 124 which has. an integral hub portion in the form of a disk provided with radial slots 126 for a purpose to be later explained. The shaft 122 is journaled in bushings 128 supported in a doubly bifurcated adjustable frame 130. This bifurcated frame 130 is provided with upwardly extending forked portions 132 and similar downwardly extendingportions 134 'and these forked portions surround outwardly extending arms 136 and 138 (Figs. .2, 3 and 4) which are integral with the frame of the machine. In order to adjust the position of the rand crease disk 16 with respect to the flange 18 of the blacking supply drum 20 so as to control the amount of blacking transferre d from one to the other, the bi furcated frame 130 is adjusted laterally by means of screw 140 (Fig. 2) threaded in the lower arm 138 of the main frame and cut to fit closely between the lower arms 134 of the bifurcated frame. Theposition of the shaft 122 with respect to the frame is maintained by means of a collar 142 and after the operator has loosened a set screw 144 which passes through the frame arm 138 to engage a part movable with the bifurcated frame, the operator may insert a screw driver through an opening 146 in the arm 134 which is smaller than the head of the screw 140 and by turning .this screw, adjust the frame 130 laterally.

It is necessary to keep the convex side of;

et 154 surrounding the enlarged end portion of the shaft 122. The bracket 154 is resiliently pressed toward the rand crease disk by springs within a pair of rods 156 each of which is held in the adjustable bifurcated frame 130 by means of set screws 158. I111!) the upper arms'132 of the adjustable frame 130, there is also mounted a rod 160 supporting a plow 162 which reaches over the upper edge of the disk 16 and is provided with an inwardly directed flange 164 4 )for en. gagement with the face of the disk. In some instances, if the blacking is very thin, there may be a tendency for the blacking to run away from the edge of the disk at the top where the latter carries the blacking over the highest point toward the front of the machine. Hence this flange 164 is so posi tioned with respect to the circumference of the disk that it tends to drag the blacking outwardly toward the periphery of the disk to increase the supply of blacking and form a bead of blacking at the outer edge of the disk where it is most needed. The position of the rod16O supporting the plow 162 with respect to the disk 16 may be ad-,.-.

justably determined by means of a clamp screw 166 (Fig. 2). It should now be noted that, having once adjusted the position of the cleaners 150 and 152 and the plow 162 with respect to the disk, it is possible to ad- ,1.

just the frame 130 carrying these members and the rand crease disk to vary the position of the disk with respect to the supply drum 20 Without disturbing the adjustment of the alezltiners and the plow with respect to the The rand crease disk 16 is driven from the shaft 44 by a train of gears 270 and the last gear of this train meshes with elongated teeth 272 (Fig. 2) in the shaft 122. Thus the axial adjustment of the rand crease disk shaft 122 does not interfere with its driving connection to the gears 270.

The applicationof blacking'to the base '10 of the heel between the rand crease and the rubber top lift is effected. as previously polnted out, by means of a brush 14 which'is mounted for rotation about an axis angularly related to the shaft 122 supporting the rand crease disk. The divergence between the two axes of rotation is in a substantially horizontal plane so as to separate the disk 16 and the brush 14 at a point diametrically opposite the point where the work is applied to allow the coaction therewith of separate means for supplying blacking to the two applying devices. In order to support the brush 14 for rotation, a headed stud 170 (Fig. 2) is mounted in a depending portion of an adjustable bracket .172 (Fig. 1) and is held therein by means of a wing screw 174. This bracket 17 2 is clamped upon the main frame of the machine by means of hand wheel 176 threaded on a stud 178 (Fig. 2) which is in turn threaded into the frame of the machine. A slot is provided in the upper end of the bracket so that it may be frame.

readily engaged with and disengaged from the stud 1'? 8 and the bracket is provided with an inwardly extending rib 180 (Figs. 2 and 3) for engagement in a corresponding hori- Zontal groove in the frame 30 so that the bracket may be removed and readily reengaged in the same angular relation to the The brush 14, itself, is supported upon a sleeve 182 constituting a hub-like extension from a wide flange 1-84 at its left end. The sleeve 182 is slipped over the stud 170, and the flange 184 is placed in engagement with the head of the stud the sleeve 182 being held rotatably in position on the stud 170 by a collar 186. The flange 184 serves to control the deflection of the bristles at the left side of the brush and is provided with 1. a pin 188 which is entered in one of the slots 126 in the disk portion of the nut 124 used for clamping the rand crease disk on its shaft. This forms a universal driving connection between the disk shaft and the brush regardless of the axial relation of the two members or of the adjustment from front to rear of the bracket supporting the brush. Preferably the brush is made up in thin sections 190 having metal hubs grooved on their inner peripheries to provide for wiring the tufts of bristles. These brush sections 190 are placed upon the sleeve 182, the number of sections being determined by the height of the heel base 10 to be treated, and are clamped thereon by means of a nut 194 (Figs. 2 and 4) having an outward projection 196 by means of which it may be turned.

In order to facilitate the easy application of brushes to the supporting sleeve 186 and their removal therefrom, the sleeve 182 is provided with an interrupted thread (Fig. 4) similar to that used in the breech block of a gun, and the nut 194 is provided with coactin interrupted threads so that the nut may be slid over the sleeve 182 into loose engagement with the hubs of the brush sections and then given a partial rotation by means of the projection 196 tightly to clamp said brush sections upon the sleeve. The design of the nut 194 is such that its opposite ends are differently located with respect to the threads of said nut. Thus in case a partial revolution of the nut when it is applied to the sleeve 182 does not clamp the brush sections tightly by means of the interrupted threads, then the nut may be reversed with the assurance that the other end can be tightly engaged with the brush.

As in the machine disclosed in the Letters Patent referred to, the deflection of the bristles at the right side of the brush is controlled by means of a concave disk 200 ad justably supported so that it may be brought up against the brush to adjust its width so that the stripe of blacking applied to the heel will completely coat the base 10 without overlapping the top lift 11. In the illustrated machine, the disk 200 is provided with a hub portion 201 reduced to form another hub portion 202 by means of which it is rotatably supported within the hollow end 204 of an arm 206 mounted on a stud 208. The arm 206 may be moved along the stud 208 and held in the desired position thereon by means of a clamp screw 210 which engages with a flattened portion of said stud. In addition the stud 208 may be adjusted from front to back in the machine, so as to bring the outer edge of the controlling disk 200 nearer to or farther away from the ends of the bristles, by moving it along a slot indicated at 212 (Fig. 1) which is in the bracket 172 and clamping it in adjusted position therein. Cleaners 214 and 216 are supported upon the arm 206 to wipe the outer side of the controlling disk 200 and prevent the accumulationof blacking thereon. The projection 196 upon the nut 194 engages a slot 197 in the hub portion 201 and provides a universal driving connection between the brush and the disk 200 irrespective of whetheror not the brush and disk are concentric.

The transfer of blacking from the pick-up drum 20 to the applying brush 14 is effected by the rotary comb 24 which is built upon a hub member or holder 220 attached to a stub shaft 222 (Fig. 7 by means of a lefthand thread 224 so that said hub may be screwed up tightly against an enlargement or shoulder 226 on said shaft and held in position thereon without displacement due to the engagement of the comb with the brush. The stub shaft 222 is journaled in aneccentrio bushing 228 and is held therein by means of a combined collar and pinion 280 which is pinned to the shaft. The rotary comb 24 com-' to the hubpcrtions by straight sides, one of which forms sharpcorners 242 with the circular edges 240. The hub 220 is provided with a key 244 and the rotary comb 24 is assembled by placing successive plates 232 in staggered relation on the hub 220 so that identical points on the plates are helically arranged around the hub, thus rendering the combing action more effective because the point of contact of successive plates is carried across the brush. This is accomplished by mounting each plate on the hub so that the key-way which co-operates with the key 244 is the next succeeding one to the key-way which was associated with said key in the case of the preceding plate. The plates are then clamped on the holder hub 220 by threaded collars 245 and the position of the comb as a whole may be adjusted axially parallel to the of the brushby adjusting these clamping collars 245. In the illustrated construction, each of the plates 232 is provided with three key-ways so that the assembled comb as shown in end view in Fig, 4 has three lobed projections, the circular portions 240' of which are arranged to pass over the cylindrical portion of the drum 20 in close relation thereto. Identical points on the plates such as the sharp corners 242 form a helix and are arranged to cut or claw through the bristles of the brush 14 to straighten out said bristles and to prevent their matting. It will be noted that the elements of the three rows of plates are staggered with respect to one another so that they travel in difierent paths through the bristles of the brush. At the same time,the comb transfers blacking from the pick-up drum to the brush bristles.

The eccentric bushing 228 in which the shaft 220 of the comb is supported is itself supported in a sub-casing 250 indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 4 and provided at its righthand lower end with a. removable journal boX 252 surrounding the transverse shaft 44. It is possible, therefore, by tilting the casing 250 about the center of the shaft 44 to cause the plates of the comb 24 to dip more or less deeply into the bristles of the brush 14. An adjusting stop screw 254 determines the position of thecasing upon the main frame and said casing is held in adjusted position by means of a clamp bolt 256 passing through a slot 258 in said casing and threaded into the frame 30. y 1

Rotation of the comb 24 is effected by a train of gears 260 shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4"and it will be noted that the adjustment of the sub-casing 250 does not disturb.

the meshing relation of said gears with the driving gear 262 on the shaft 44, nor does it disturb the relation of the circular edges 240 of the transfer comb 24 to the drum 20.

It may be desired to vary the relation of control the quantity ofblacking transferred by the comb, and to this end, the eccentric bushing 228 is provided with a slotted to secure the change of a few thousandths of an inch necessary to get the circular edges 240 in just the desired relation to the drum 20. V

The eccentric bushing 228 is held in adjusted position by a clamp bolt 266 (Fig. 7).

In order to prevent the teeth of the rotary comb 24 from acting repeatedly upon the same portions of the brush so as to Wear away the bristles or to mat down the brush instead of combing it up as desired, the arrangement is such that there is a hunting action between the teeth of the rotary comb and the brush to transfer the point of contact of any particular portion of the comb around the surface of the brush. As a result, an individual plate of the comb only comes into. engagement with the same set of bristles of the brush once in approximately every four hundred revolutions of the brush. I ferential hunting action supplements the effect of the helical arrangement of the plates 232 of the comb, as a result of which there is also a hunting action in a direction parallel to the axis of the comb to transfer the point of contact of any particular portion of the comb axially.

It may be that the blacking which is used will be of such a character that it requires constant agitation in order to prevent the pigment in the blaeking from settling I have provided, therefore, an agitator 280 having laterally extending comb-like teeth (Fig. 3) formed integrally with an arm 282 which is pivotally attached at 284 to the blacking receptacle 22. This arm 282 is provided with an overhanging cam flange 286 curved as shown in Figs. 1 and 4 for engagement by a camrroll 288 upon an arm 290 secured to the shaft 44 by a clamp 292. During the operation of the machine, the rotation of the shaft will repeatedly lift the agitator by reason of the engagement of the roll 288 beneath the flange 286. and subsequently allow the agitator to drop back into the receptacle. A buffer 294 (Fig. 4) has been provided at the forward end of the agitator to soften the blow of the agitator against the bottom of the receptacle. It will be noted, therefore, that the arrangement is such that the agitator 280 will be removed with the receptacle so that both may be cleansed whenever it is necessary to clean the receptacle. It is only necessary to stop the machine in such a position that the roll 288 is not in engagement with the flange 286. 8

Having set the machine in operation, the

heel bases of shoe heels may be treated by the applying'brush 14 by positioning the heels upon the work support 42 and turning the shoes to bring all parts of the horseshoe- This eircumshaped peripheries of the heel bases into engagement with the applying brush. It will be understood that the top edges of the heels adjacent to the rand crease are coated at the same time by reason of their engagement with the rand crease disk 16. The supply of black ing picked up by the peripheral surface of the cylindrical drum 20 may be controlled by the proper adjustment of the scraper 92 through the screw 114 and a supply of blacking for delivery to the rand crease disk may be similarly controlled by the proper adj ustment of the hand screw 88 to determine the position of the scraper 82 with respect to the flange 18 of the drum. The width of the stripe of blacking applied by the brush 14: is controlled by adjusting the controlling disk 200 at the right side of the brush and more or less compressing the bristles of the brush against the abutment flange 184i, this adjustment being effected by loosening the hand screw 210 (Fig. 3) so as to slide the bearing supporting said controlling disk 200 along the stud 208.

Then it is desired to remove-the rotary comb 24 for cleaning, it is only necessary to lift up the protecting cover 276 which is pivoted at 27 8 (Fig. l) and to unscrew the hub 220 of the comb from the stub-shaft 222. it may be as easily replaced without affecting any adjustment. When it is desired to remove the brush 14 for cleaning or replacement, the supporting bracket 172 will be removed by loosening the hand wheel 176, after which the sleeve 182 carrying the brush may be removed axially by loosening the thumb nut 17% and taking the shaft 170 out of said bracket. It is possible then to remove the brush sections very quickly by giving a partial turn to the nut 1% by pressure on the projection 196, after which the end of the brush sections may be slipped off over the collar 186 and the end of the stud 170. Bemoval of the pin 32 permits the removal of both the blacking receptacle 22 and the agitator 280 as the said receptacle with its extension 36 is lowered out of engagement with the dowel 38.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters latent of the United States is:

1. In a blacking machine, an applying brush, a blacking receptacle pick-up means for lifting blacking from the receptacle, and

means for transferring the blackin from the pick-up means to the aplyingbrusn comprising members constructed and arranged to operate also to straighten the bristles of the brush.

2. in a blacking machine, an applying brush, a blacking receptacle, a rotary cylinder for taking blacking from the receptacle, and a comb for transferring blacking from the cylinder to the applying brush comprising members constructed and arranged to exert a clawing action on the bristles of the brush to straighten the bristles.

3. In a blaeking machine, a brush for applying blacking to heel peripheral surfaces, a blacking receptacle, a pickup device for taking blacking from the receptacle, and a comb comprising a holder and a plurality of lobed sections arranged'in staggered relation upon said holder to straighten the bristles of the brush, said lobed sections serving also to transfer blacking from the pickup device to the brush.

4. In a blacking machine, a brush for applying blacking to heel peripheral surfaces, a blackingreceptacle, a pick-up device for taking blacking from the receptacle, and a rotary transfe device interposed between the pick-up device and the brush constructed and arranged to straighten the bristles of the brush and provided with peripheral surfaces adapted to be brought into close relation to the pickup device to receive blacking therefrom and transferit to the brush.

5. In a blacking machine, a brush for applying blacking to heel peripheral surfaces, a blacking receptacle, a pick-up device for taking blacking from the receptacle, a rotary transfer device interposed between the pickup device and the'brush constructed and ar ranged to straighten the bristles of the brush and provided with peripheral surfaces adapt ed to be brought into close relation to the pick-up device to receive blacking therefrom and transfer it to the brush, and an ustable eccentric bearing for said rotary transfer device constructed and arranged to permit adjustment of the transfer means toward and away from the axis of the pickup device to control the quantity of blacking transferred.

6. In a blacking machine, an applying brush, a supply receptacle and means for delivering blacking from the receptacle to the brush, comprising a rotatable drum and a comb member having substantially circular portions adapted closely to approach the surface of the drum to remove blacking therefrom and deliver it to the applying brush.

7. In a blacking machine, an applying brush, a supply receptacle, a rotatable pick-up device having a cylindrical portion dipping in and arranged to lift blacking from the receptacle, and transfer means for removing blaclring from said cylindrical portion and de ivering it to the applying brush, said transfer means comprising a plurality of sections constructed and arranged to approach closely to said cylindrical portion of the pickup device to take blacking therefrom and arranged in staggered relation to exert a straightening action'on the bristles of the brus 8. In a blacking machine, an applying member, a supply receptacle, pick-up means for lifting blacking from said receptacle,

means for transferring the blacking from said latter means to the applying member, and means for supporting said transfer means, constructed and arranged to'permit adjustment of the transfer means toward and away from the axis of the pick-up means.

9. In a slacking machine, an applying member, a supply receptacle, pick-up means for lifting biaclzing from said receptacle, and rotary means for transferring the blaclring from said pick-up means to the applying member comprising a plurality of thin plates disposed substantially normal to the axis of rotation of the rotary means and provided with circular edge portions ada ted to be brought into close proximity to the pick-up means to receive blacking therefrom for transfer to the applying member.

10. In a blacking machine, an applying member, a supply receptacle, a rotatable cylindrical pick-up device dipping in said receptacle for lifting blacking therefrom, and

means for transferring the blaclring from' said cylinder to the applying member comprising a rotatable transfer device provided with a plurality of segmental blades disposed substantially normal to the axis of rotation of the transfer device and provided. with curved edges arranged to move in close proximity to the surface of the cylindrical pickup device to remove blacking therefrom'for transfer to the applying member.

11. In a blacking machine, an applying member, a supply receptacle, a rotary cylin- -.der dipping in the blacking in said receptacle,

a rotatable transfer means having circular peripheral portions for transferring the blaclring from the cylinder to the applying means, an eccentric bearing for said transfer means, and means for adjusting the position of said bearing to vary the approach of the transfer means to the pick-up cylinder.

12. In a blacking machine, an applying brush, a supply receptacle, a pick-up cylinder dipping in said receptacle, and a rotary transfer device interposed between the picl up device and the brush comprising members having substantially circular portions adapted closely to approach the surface of the cylainder to remove blacking therefrom and deliver it to the applying brush, said members being also constructed and arranged to exert a clawing action on the bristles of the brush to straighten the bristles.

13. In a blacking machine an applying brush, a supply receptacle, a pick-up cylinder dipping in said receptacle, a rotary transfer device interposed between the pick-up device and the brush comprising members having substantially circular portions adapted closely to approachthe surface of the cylinder to remove blaclring therefrom and deliver it to the applying brush, said members being also constructed and'arranged to exert a clawlng :action on the bristles of the brush to straighten the bristles, and means for adjusting the axis of rotation of said transfer. means to vary the distance between the circular portions of said members and the pick-upcyhnder.

14. In a blacking machine, an applying brush, a supply receptacle, a pick-up cylinder dipping in said receptacle, a rotary transfer device interposed between the pick-up device and the bru h comprising members having substantially circular portions adapted closely to approach the surface of the cyl inder to remove blacking therefrom and deliver it to the applying brush, said members being also constructed and arranged to exert a clawing action on the bristles of the brush to straighten the bristles, and means for varying the approach of the transfer means to the brush without disturbing the relation of the transfer device to the cylinder.

15. In a blacking machine, an applying brush, a supply receptacle, a pick-up cylin der dipping in said receptacle, a rotary transfer device interposed between the pick-up device and the brush comprising members having substantially circular portions adapted closely to approach the surface of the cylinder to remove the blacking therefrom and deliver it to the applying brush, said members being also constructed and arranged to exert a clawing action on the bristles of the brush to straighten; the bristles, means for adjusting the relation of said transfer means to the cylinder, and means for varying the approach of the transfer means to the brush without disturbing the relation of the transfer device to the cylinder.

16. In a blacking machine, a rotatable comb other side by side along said shaft with suc-' cessive plates angularly related to one another, and means for clamping said plates together in position upon the shaft.

18. In a blacking machine, an applying brush, a supply cylinder, and a rotatable comb for straightening the bristles of a blacking applying brush and transferring blacking thereto, said comb comprising a holder shaft and a plurality of plate sections mounted on the shaft, each of said sections comprising a hub portion and a projecting portion and said projecting portion having a circular end edge concentric with the axis of the shaft adapted to coact with said cylinder;

19. In a blacking machine an applying brush, a supplying cylinder, and a rotatable comb for straightening the brustles of a blacking applying brush and transferring blackmg thereto, said comb comprising a holder shaft and a plurality of plate sections mount-' ed on the shaft, each of said sections comprising a hub portion and a projecting portion and said projecting portion having a circular end edge concentric with the axis of the shaft adapted to coact with said cylinder and a straight edge intersecting the circular edge to form a sharp corner at the advancing side thereof, said straight edge being disposed along a line back of a radius j oining said corner to the center of the shaft, whereby the corner may more effectively claw the bristles of the brush.

20. In a blacking machine, a blacliing ap plying brush, a rotatable comb for straightening the bristles of said brush, a supporting and driving shaft for said comb having a shoulder, said comb comprising a holder threaded on said shaft and adapted to be brought up against said shoulder, and means for securing said comb to said holder.

21. In a blacking machine, an applying brush, a rotatable comb for straightening the bristles of said brush, said comb comprising a holder sleeve, a plurality of comb members mounted side by side on saidsleeve, and means for clamping said members to said sleeve to permit adjustment of the comb in a direction parallel to the axis of the brush comprising clamping collars threaded to the sleeve and arranged to contact with each end of the comb assembly. a

22. In a blacking machine, a rotary comb for straightening the bristles of a blacking applying brush comprising a holder having a longitudinal key and a plurality of identical plate sections arranged side by side upon the holder, each plate section comprising a hub portion having a plurality of key-ways so that it may be mounted in any one of several positions upon the holder and a projecting portion, said projecting portion being shaped to form a sharp corner at its advancing side to enter the bristles of the brush.

23. In a blacking machine, a rotary comb for straightening the bristles of a blacking applying brush comprising a holder having a longitudinal key, and a plurality of plate sections mounted side by side upon the holder and having lobed portions and hub portions, the hub portions being provided with a plurality of key-ways whereby said sections may be mounted in any one of several positions upon the holder to provide a comb with a corresponding number of projections. I

24:. In a blacking machine, an applying member, a blacking supply receptacle, means for transferring blacking from said receptacle to said member including a hollow drum having one side substantially closed by a flange which prevents the introduction of blacking to the interior of the drum as the latter dips into the receptacle. 7

25. In a blacking machine, blacking applying means, a blaclring supply receptacle, a hollow member for taking blacking from the receptacle, and a transfer device for receiving blacking from said hollow member and delivering it to the aplying means, said hollow member being constructed and arranged te prevent the accumulation of blacking in its interior. j

26. In a blacking machine,'an applying member, a supply receptacle, means for transferring blacking from said receptacle to said member including cylindrical means, said cylindrical means having an end surface, and means for scraping the blackmg from said end surface comprising a member having a flattened face and mounted to turn about an axis alongside said surface to bring a corner of said face into co-operative relation with the said end surface.

27. In a blacking machine, an applying member, a supply receptacle, means for transferring blacking from said receptacle to said member including a surface normal to the shalt, means for scraping the blacking from said surface comprising a member having a sharp corner extending lengthwise of the member substantially parallel to its axis, and means for supporting said member with its 7 axis disposed substantially parallel to said surface constructed and arranged to allow adjustment of said member about its axis to bring said corner into cooperative relation with said surface, e

28. In a blacking machine, an applying member, a supply receptacle, means for transferring blacking from said receptacle to said applying member comprising a cylindrical member having parallel laterally displaced surfaces, and means for scraping blaclring from said parallel surfaces comprising a pair of members one of which is adjustable to compensate for uneven wear. of the two members of the pair.

29. In a blacking machine, an applying member, a supply receptacle, means for transferring blacking from said receptacle to said applying member including a cylindrical member, said cylindrical member having an outwardly projecting flange, and relatively adjustable scrapers constructed and arranged to control the blacking upon one face of said flange and an end face of the cylindrical member.

30. In a blacking machine, a blacking .ap-

plying member, a-supply receptacle, means for transferring blacking from said receptacle to said applying member comprising a member. having a face one'portion of which supplies blacking'to said applying member,

and scraper means comprising a readily adjzustable part operating, to control the blacking supplied: by said portion; of said face and a stripper adapted to clean said face adjacent to the portion thereof which supplies blacle.

ing to the applying member. 7 j

31. In ablacking machine, a blacking applying disk,- a supply'receptacle, means for transferring blacking from said receptacle to the applying member comprising a member having a circular face substantially normal to theaxis of rotation of saidmember and overlapping said disk, an adjustable 1 scraper constructed and arranged to control the quantity of blacking upon the annular margin of said circular face, and stripper m'ea-ns'overlapping said scraper means for cleaning a portion of said face within said annular margin.

In a blacking machine, anapplying member, a supply receptacle, a cylinder for transferring blacking from said, receptacle to said applying member having a pro ecting flange, scrapers for the periphery of the cylinde'r, I

surface of the cylinder, a holder for sa d scrapers, means for adjusting said holder constructed and arranged to adjust the posito'said applying member having a projecting flange, a scraper forcontrolling the quantity of blacking upon a plurality of'adj acent surfaces of said cylinder comprising a block, the end surface of which is resiliently pressed against said flange, an elongated pin-like member rotatably mounted in said block at an angle thereto, said pin-like member having a sharp corner extending alongside the end surface of the cylinder and adapted to be brought into cooperative relation thereto by turning the pin about its axis and said block having a sharp-edged port-ion adapted to be brought into cooperative relation to thecurved periphery of the cylinder to control the amount of bleaching carried by said periphery, and means for rotating said scraper assembly about an aziis substantially parallel to the axis of the cylinder, thereby to vary the quantity of blacking-carried by the periphery of the cylinder without disturbing the relation of the scrapers coacting withthesurface of the flange and thefend surface of the cylinder to said surfaces respectively.

34:. In a blacking machine, a frame, an applying member, asupply receptacle, a cylindrical means for transferring bla'cking from said applying member, an adjustable scraper the side of the flange, and the end for controlling the quantity of blacking' transferred by said cylindrical means, and means for supporting said adjustable scrapercomprising a block detachably secured to the frame of the machine, said block being ranged so that the disk may be adjusted axially toward andaway from'the supplying means without disturbing the ad ustment of the cleaning means with respect to the disk.

36. In a blacking machine, a disk having a lateral face for applying blacking to the surface of a shoe heel base in the rand crease, means contacting with said face of the disk for supplying blacking thereto, a" plow ar ranged to contact with said face of the disk and operating to divert blacking toward the periphery of the disk, cleaning means contacting with the opposite lateral face of said disk, and anadjustable holder for supporting said disk, said plow and said cleaning means constructed and arranged to permit axial adjustment of the disk with respect to the supply means without disturbing the relid tllOl'l of the plow and cleaning means to the c 1S r.

37. In a blacking machine, a'disk having a lateral face for applying blacking to the surface of a shoe heel base ingthe rand crease, means contacting with saidfface of thedisk for supplying blacking thereto, af'plow arranged to contact with said face of the disk and operatin r to carry blacking received by the disk outwardly 3 toward its periphery, and an adjustable holder for supporting said disk and said plow consume ed and arranged to permit ustment of the disk axially toward and from the supply means without disturbingtherelation of the V plow to the disk.

88. In a shoe blacking machine, a sectional applying member, driving means therefor, a removably mounted stud securedto themachine, a retatable supporting sleeve on said stud and having an end abutment detachably connected to said driving means, means for securing one or more sections ofsaid, applying members upon said 'supperting sleeve in en gagement with said abutment comprisingan interrupted thread on said sleeve and a quickly removable co-acting nut having an interrupted thread, theend surfaces of said nut being differently related to its thread so that it may be reversedto insure a tight clamping engagement.

lit)

39. In a machine for blacking shoes, a 1'0- tatable support provided with an abutment flange and hub-like extension, a brush placed over said extension in engagement with said abutment flange whereby the spread of the bristles at one side is limited, an interrupted thread on said extension, a c0-acting nut provided with an interrupted thread, an external projection on said nut, whereby said nut may he slid into engagement with the end of the brush and tightened against the brush by en gaging said projection to give it a partial rocation, and a separate disk rotatably sup ported for engagement with the other side of the brush, said disk having a slot for engagement with the projection on said nut whereby said disk may be rotated with the brush irrespective of whether or not the brush and the disk are concentric.

40. In a blacking machine, a removable fluid receptacle, an agitator in said receptacle movably attached to the receptacle and removable from the machine with the receptacle, and driving means upon the machine and constructed and arranged intermittently to engage the agitator to vary the position of the agitator with respect to the receptacle without interfering with removal of either from the machine.

d1. In a blacking machine, a removable blacking receptacle, an agitator in said receptacle pivotally attached to the receptacle for removal therewith, and driving means upon the machine constructed and arranged detachably to engage the agitator to move it with respect to the receptacle, thereby allowing removal of the receptacle without disturbing the pivotal connection of the agitator to the receptacle.

42. In a blacking machine, an applying device, a rotary member dipping in the receptacle to raise blacking for delivery to the applying device, an agitator arranged along side said rotary member and pivotally attached to the rim of the receptacle, and driving means upon the machine constructed and arranged for intermittent engagement with said agitator to vary its position with respect to the receptacle.

43. In a blacking machine, a driven shaft, a blaclring receptacle, an agitator arm pivotally mounted on said receptacle for up and down movement therein and provided with an overhanging cam-shaped flange, and a cam roll upon said shaft and arranged for intermittent engagement beneath said flange to raise the agitator arm and allow it to drop back into the receptacle.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

HERBERT L. CHAPIN. 

